Still wearing Brazil’s shirt with pride after night of fortune (or shame)

Not any Brazil shirt for 13-year-old Keir Bradwell, but a harkback to 1970 – though see Mick Goulding’s comment below – that he got for offering to “roadtest” one from the Campo Retro range.

You’ve seen what Paul “Sobs” Dobson, or rather his son, made of his Belgium top. Below you’ll find Keir’s admiring review of his choice.

The opening night did not fill the heart with joy at the wonder of football. The Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura’s extraordinary decision to to award a penalty, and a yellow card for heaven’s sake, instantly removed any lingering sense of the beautiful game’s innocence. I have been charitable – a dreadful mistake at work, perhaps aggravated by an unwillingness to displease the hosts – but others have been, shall we say, harsher.

Two quotes from the BBC’s coverage to depress you further. The Croatian coach Niko Kovac, while correctly condemning the wretched decision, offered this excuse for the tumbling, cheating Fred: “I cannot blame Fred at all – everyone tries it on. Like it or not, this is part and parcel of football.”

And Brazil’s Luiz Felipe Scolari, presumably after his coffee was laced with something very potent: “Millions didn’t see the penalty?… I have seen it 10 times and I think it is a penalty.”

But enough of that. Here is Keir’s view of his Brazil top. He does not reveal whether we can expect to see No 12 Nishimura emblazoned on the back:

It’s always lovely to get a parcel in the post – especially when it’s something you’re really excited about. Football shirts of opposition teams don’t usually fall into that category but in this instance I make a very big exception. Last week, a yellow and green one arrived from Campo Retro’s new Brazil 2014 range.

I’d been very excited about their new range of World Cup shirts as I loved the texture of them, a mesh fabric in the style of the kits from Mexico 1970. I think it subtly sets the shirts apart from anything else, by adding an extra touch of class and design over some of the current World Cup kits that can often look a bit cheap and nasty.

I plumped for the Brazilian shirt because it had a collar, and I suppose also because they’re hosting the tournament. The collar is double-layered, green on top, yellow underneath. It’s not a traditional collar, as it doesn’t have buttons, but it reminds me of one of the Brazilian shirts from Socrates’s day.

Salut! Sunderland currently has Jozy Altidore’s USA as its honorary second team. See why and, if you wish, cast your vote in the ongoing poll: https://safc.blog/2014/06/brazil-2014-right-said-fred-lets-have-a-penalty/

This shirt has so many little details on it, too. There’s space for a Campo Retro pin at the bottom, and it has a specially designed badge – the “Victory Crest” – which looks stunning. It also uses green and white trim on the inside and has a tiny little Campo Retro logo on one sleeve, which is a nice touch. I love this shirt mainly for the detail, even over the collar and its texture. All the elements that’ve been added feel like they belong on it, rather than just slapped on as an afterthought.

Overall, the shirt’s brilliant, fits perfectly and feels very high-quality. I genuinely love it, and will endeavour to wear it as often as I can this World Cup and beyond.

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